As you get older, you have more and more choices about what you want to do with your life. At the same time, you have greater and greater responsibilities. This article is an introduction to some of the issues and opportunities that you will face as you become an adult. It can help you understand new responsibilities and also teach you about a major new concept: “independent living.”

After presenting many aspects of day-to-day life, this article also introduces higher education and employment as major options for you in the upcoming years. When appropriate, this article will direct you to the more detailed articles for young people on DB101 that discuss finding a job, employment, education, and benefits options.